ATCON partner PMM on Cyber cafe workshop

Umbrella body of telecommunications entities in the country, the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), is partnering with Private Media Mart (PMM) to organise a one-day workshop for survival for Cyber Café operators in the country.
Affirming this, ATCON president, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem said that all is now set for the workshop.
He noted that lack of information on appropriate technologies, wrong choice of hardware and software as well as poor management techniques have been the reason why many cyber café operators are closing shop.
Dr. Ekuwem pointed out that out of all the cyber cafes that began business with the boom in the Internet business within the tail end of the 20th century in Nigeria, less than 1 per cent is presently in business, adding that out of this figure, some of them are working under capacity.
He also said that the workshop is to proffer solutions to the operational challenges facing these café operators.
“ATCON in partnership with Private Media Mart Limited (PMM) has concluded plans to host a Cyber Café survival workshop in Lagos,” he declared.
According to him, the idea behind the workshop is the need to conduct a business cum technology solutions forum for the players in the industry.
The workshop, slated to hold on September 21, 2007 in Lagos, will bring together investors and prospective investors in the cyber café business to engage in knowledge sharing with providers of appropriate technologies and professional management consultants.
The technologies targeted at the workshop include, but not limited to Internet solutions, computer software, cyber café business consultants, power solutions, Internet applications, security solutions and Small and Medium Enterprise fund providers.
Daily Champion gathered that the workshop is also aimed at encouraging more potential investors to participate in efforts at accelerating the expansion of Internet services to sub urban and rural communities in Nigeria.
“That is why we are involving the Ministry of Information and Communications, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) as well as the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) are billed to participate,” he said.
Also speaking, Managing Partner, PMM, Mr. Ejiofor Agada said that the workshop is not going to be another discussion session for telecom industry players, stressing, “It is going to be an avenue where challenges are resolved, problems solved, cyber business interests rekindled and the high mortality rate amongst cyber cafes across the country arrested.”
The workshop will equally feature a mini exhibition where technology providers would showcase the latest solutions for cyber cafes and other Internet users.

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